Benjamin t



(No Model. I I I B. T. 'BABBITT;

' AUTOMATIC BOILER FEEDER. No. 244,518. Patented July 19 -1881;

21 l. f I 4 i E U ITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN T. BABBITT, on NEW-YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC B OlLER- FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,518, dated July 19, 1881.

Application filed May 20, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN T. BABBIIT, of the city and county of New York, in the State of NewYork, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Boiler-Feeders, of which the following'is a specification.

The invention consists in a novel combination, with a boiler, of two water-chambers, into one of which water is delivered by gravity from any convenient source of supply, and

from which the water is forced by pressure of steam from the boiler into the second chamber, from whence it passes to the boiler, the several pipes connecting the water-chambers with the boiler and with each other being provided with cocks or valves, which are operated by a weighted beam or lever controlled by floats within the two water-chambers, as fully hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawing represents a portion of a boiler and a water-tank and a partlysectional elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention for feeding the boiler.

Arepresents a steam-boiler, which may be of any ordinary or other type, and of which no description is necessary, and B designates a water-tank, which may be supplied from any elevated source of supply or from hydrantpressure in places provided with water-works.

G D designate two water-chambers, through which the water passes from the tank B to the boiler A, the former water-chamber (J being sufficiently below the water-tank to permit water to run into it therefrom, and the latter water-chamber D being elevated above the boiler, so that water will run into the boiler therefrom by gravity. In the water-chambers O D are arranged floats O D, and connected with said floats are rods 0 D extending upward through stuffing-boxes S in the tops of the water-chambers.

E designates a lever or beam, pivoted at a to the standard or upright F and provided with an upwardly-projecting arm, E, which is weighted at b, so that whenever said lever or beam is shifted slightly beyond a central position by eithei'of the floats C D its movement will be completed by reason of the weight, which is shifted by the movement of the lever from one side to the other of the center by the positive movement imparted to the lever or beam by the floats O D.

G designates a pipe leading from the watertank B to the water-chamber O, and provided with a cook or valve, G, whereby the passage of water through it is controlled.

H designates a pipe leading from the lower part of the water-chamber O to the water-chamber D, and provided with. a cock or valve, H, whereby the passage of water through it is controlled. I designates a pipe leading-from the lower part of the water-chamber D to the boiler, for delivering water from said chamber into the boiler, and provided with a cock, I, for controlling the passage of water through it.

J designates a steam-pipe leading from the boiler above the water-line to the upper part of the water-chamber O; and K designates a branch steam-pipeleadingfrom the pipe J and serving to conduct steam from the boiler to the water chamber D. The passage of steam through the pipes J K is controlled by cocks or valves J K, as clearly shown.

The cocks or valves G J in the pipes G and J are operated by a rod, L, which receives motion from the lever or beam E. The cocks or valves H I in the pipes H I are operated by a rod, M, from the lever or beam and the cook or.

valve K in the pipe K is operated by a rod, N, connected with the rod M.

As clearly shown, the lever or beam E engages with elongated openings or slots 0 in the rods L M, thereby enabling'the several cocks or valves to be operated during the first movement of the lever or beam E, and permitting the said lever or beam to complete its final movement without operating said cocks or valves.

I will now describe the mode of operation of my improved apparatus.

In the drawing the water-chamber (J is represented as full of water, and during the time of filling said chamber of course the cock G in the pipe Gr mustbe open to permit the passage of Water from the tank B to the waterchamber G, and at the same-time the cock J in the pipe J must have been closed to shut off the steam-pressure from the said water-chamber. By the filling of the chamberG the float 0 contained therein is raised, and acting upon the lever or beam E tilts the same into the position shown in full outline in the drawing. This tilting of the lever or beam E shuts the cock G, thus closing communication between 5 it and the water-tank, and at the same time opens the cock J to admit steam to the chamher 0 above the water, and also the cock H to permit the water in the chamberO to be forced into the chamber D by the pressure of steam to from the boiler. During this operation it will be observed that the cocks I K are closed, thus cutting oft all communication between the boiler and the chamber D. As the water is forced into the chamber D the float D therein 15 rises, and as soon as itrises sufficiently to throw or tilt the lever or beam E beyond its center of gravity the latter falls, opening the cock G to permit water to pass from the tank 13 into the water-chamber 0-, closing the cocks H J 20 to out 01f all communication between the chamber C and the chamber D and boiler, and opening the cooks I K to establish an equilibrium of pressure in the chamber D, and in the boiler to permit water from said chamber to flow into the boiler. As the water enters the chamber 2 5 O the float O rises until the lever or beam E is tilted, when the operation is completed.

By my invention I providea simple and reliable apparatus applicable for feeding steamboilers automatically, and thus dispensing with 0 a direct-acting or other pump usually employed for such purpose, and effecting the saving of the steam commonly employed for driving such a pump.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to 5 secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the boiler, the feedwater tank, and the two water-chambers and floats, ot' the several pipes and valves G G,

H H, I I, J J, K K, arranged substantially 0 as described, and the weighted lever or beam and connections adapted to be operated by said floats to simultaneously shift all said valves.

B. T. BABBITT.

Witnesses:

CHAS. G. Harsna, A. M. PHRAUER. 

